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Finally, there is Julius Lesters John Henry. John Henry was a purportedly actual (his reality has been up for debate) rail-road worker who was certainly larger in physical stature and stronger than most people, but he certainly could not have accomplished what legend would credit him with. Again, this is in the vein of Davy Crockett in that it takes up the story of a real man around whom has been spun tall tales of absolutely incredibly unbelievable events. Like Osborn, Lester begins his book on John Henry with a preface recognizing the legends and folklore that surround his subject. The illustrations within the book are very similar to Osborns in that they are fanciful (a Unicorn appears in one) that lead one to follow that the story of John Henry is certainly more fiction than fact and fully support the text in this manner. But, while Osborn infuses actual history into her story, Lester is relatively unable to do so. Rather, he looks at the meaning of John Henry to the African Americans of the post-war era when blacks were relatively free but had virtually no options for success and no heroes. This book, then, is an exploration

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